Feancis ley



(No Model.)

' F. LEY.

' BRAKE APPARATUS FOR PULLEY BLOCKS, &c. No. 246,795. Patented Sept. 6,1881.

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UNITE States FRANCIS LEY, OF DERBY, ENGLAND.

BRAKE APPARATUS FOR PU'LLEY-BLOCKS, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,795, dated September 6, 1881.

Application filed February 12, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England June 19, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANoIs LEY, of the Vulcan Iron-forks, Derby, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Pulley-Blocks, applicable also for crabs, cranes, winches, and other machines, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object improvements in brake'apparatus for pulley-blocks, applicable also for crabs, cranes, winches, and other machines.

In pulley blocks as now commonly constructed the frame is of an inverted-T form. The hook by which the 1. ulley-block is suspended is attached to the end of the stem of the T-frame, and to this end of thestem is also jointed a brake-lever. A brake-strap passing partly around one of the pulleys is attached at one end to the extremity of one arm of the head of the T-frame, while the other end of the strap is connected to the brake-lever, or

the brake-lever has both ends of the strap secured to it. To this lever is also connected a cord, by pulling which the brake-strap can be tightened around the pulley and the load either prevented from running down or its descent regulated, as may bedesired. It, however, the cord is slaekened the load at once runs down.

According to my invention, I joint tothe extremity ofthebrake-leverarod passingthrough the center of and carrying a ball. To the end of this rod 1 connect the cord by which the brake is to be applied. The rod passes through a slot in a plate carried by a prolongation of the head of the inverted-T frame. When the brake is not in use the ball on the rod is above the plate. When the cord is pulled on the brake is applied and the ball is drawn downward through the slot in the plate.

If it is desired to keep the load suspended the lower end of the rod is by the cord swung outward away from the pulleys. The rod then moves through a narrow portion of the slotin the plate, and the upper part of the ball enters a cup-shaped hollow at the outer extremity of the slot. This extremity of the slot is of such size as not to allow the ball topass through it. The cord may then be released and the brake will still continue to hold the pulley. Thereis sufticient spring in the brake lever and strap to enable the ball to be thus sprung into the cup-shaped recess.

To release the brake the cord merely requires a steady pull to bring it into its normal position. The descent of theload can then readily be regulated by the man holding the cord.

The brake apparatus above described is also applicable to crabs, cranes, winches, and other machines.

The drawings hereunto annexed show a pulley-block with brake apparatus applied to it in the manner above described.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pulleyblock with its brake apparatus. Fig. 2 shows a section of the locking-plate, and also the end of a brake-lever with the rod and balldependent from it. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 shows separately a section of the locking-plate.

A is the inverted-T frame, carry iug the pulleys.

B is the brake-strap, jointed .to one arm of the Tframe, and, after being carried partly around one of the pulleys,jointed to the brakelever O in the ordinary manner.

D is the locking-plate, secured to the arm of the T-frame, to which the brake-strap is connected, the bars of which composing the arm being prolonged, so as to carry the plate.

E is the rod hanging downfrom the end of the brake-lever O, and passing through aslot in the plate D.

H is the ball secured to the rod E; I, a cord hanging down from the end of the rod E.

When the brake is to be applied the rod is pulled downward by the cord I and drawn into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the ball may rest in the cup-shaped hollow M on the under side of the plate D. When the brake is required to be released the cord is again pulled on and the rod swung back to its former position. The counterbalance-weight O at the end of the brake-lever will then cause the ball to rise up into the larger cup N, formed on the plate, or might simply cause it to rise up through a hole in this plate. The same arrangement of brake apparatus can be used with the brake wheels or pulleys 0f crabs, cranes, winches, and other a deeper cup or opening at the opposite end machines. of the slot when the brake is off and the lever Having thus described my invention, what set free, substantially as specified. I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters FRANCIS LEY' 5 Patent, ise The combination, with the brake-lever of W'itnesses:

pulley-blocks, of a rod and ball, said rod pass- GEO. W. REYNOLDS, in g a slot in a plate that is secured to one of 77 Regent Street, Derby, the arms of the Ttrame of the pulley, and J. W. ROWBOTHAM,

0 adapted to fit within a cup-shaped recess at 15 Newland Street, Derby,

the outer end of the slot when the brakedever Clerks with Mr. John Moody, Solicitor and N0- is to be held down, and enter or pass through tary Public, Derby, England. 

